WA players star at AFL Women’s DraftTuesday, April 21, 2015 - 12:51 PM

West Australian Emma King was selected by the Western Bulldogs with the first pick at the 2015 AFL Women’s Draft as one of three WA players chosen in the top five and a total of 15 selected to compete in this year’s AFL Women’s Exhibition Matches.

King became WA’s second consecutive top draft pick and also the second from WAWFL club Coastal Titans after teammate Tiah Haynes was selected with the top pick at last year’s Draft.

Kiara Bowers, also from Coastal Titans, was selected by Melbourne with the fourth pick, and Swan Districts player Kellie Gibson was chosen at number five by the Western Bulldogs.

Another nine WA players were selected between picks 10 and 30. Three WA players were also retained by Melbourne – Chelsea Randall, Kirby Bentley and Kara Donnellan, all from Swan Districts.   

WAFC Female High Performance Manager Alison Moore congratulated all of the WA players selected and said she was delighted with the result.

“To have 15 players chosen again this year after 15 last year and 12 in 2013 shows that Western Australia is consistently producing top female talent and is an industry leader in this area,” she said.

“To have two number one selections in the three years the AFL Women’s Draft has been running is also a fantastic result,” she said.

Female football is the fastest growing segment of the game in WA, with participation increasing by 78% last year and more than 33,500 participants making up 18% of total football participation.

2015 WA draftees:

1. WB – Emma King (Coastal Titans)

4. Melb – Kiara Bowers (Coastal Titans)

5. WB – Kellie Gibson (Swan Districts)

10. Melb – Emma Swanson (Peel Thunderbirds)

11. WB – Renee Forth (Coastal Titans)

12. Melb – Hayley Miller (Coastal Titans)

14. Melb – Ebony Rose Antonio (Coastal Titans)

16. Melb – Dana Hooker (Coastal Titans)

17. WB – Jessica Wuetschner (East Fremantle)

18. Melb – Leah Mascall (Coastal Titans)

20. Melb – Kira Phillips (Peel Thunderbirds)

30. Melb – Brianna Green (East Fremantle)

Retained WA players:

Melbourne

Chelsea Randall - Swan Districts

Kara Donnellan - Swan Districts

Kirby Bentley - Swan Districts

WA coach Michelle Cowan will coach the Melbourne team again this year during AFL Women’s Exhibition Matches against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday May 24 at the MCG and Sunday August 16 at Etihad Stadium.

Photo: Number 1 Draft pick Emma King with Western Bulldogs women's coach Craig Starcevich.